Nick Saban to four-star linebacker: ‘That’s my baby’

HAMPTON, Ga. — Tadarian Moultry’s leaders change frequently. Each time he visits a school, Moultry ends up falling in love with the program.

Heading into his visit to Alabama this past Friday for the start of spring practice Auburn was atop Moultry’s leaders, but now the two in-state rivals are tied.

Moultry, a four-star inside linebacker from Jackson-Olin High School (Birmingham, Ala.), said the Crimson Tide’s message to him was clear.

“They want and need me. They would love having me there,” Moultry told SEC Country on Sunday afternoon at the MVP Camp. “They said they need four linebackers this class. They said I’m a huge target for them.”

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder said Nick Saban and Jeremy Pruitt made it known to him that he was the No. 1 priority at his position.

“Nick Saban was like you’re a huge target for us,” Moultry said. “He just looked at me and smiled and said ‘that’s my baby.’ All of his linebackers are like his babies.”

This past week in Tuscaloosa, Molutry was intently focused on one of Saban’s ‘babies’ — linebacker Reuben Foster.

After watching him practice, Moultry is ready to make a bold prediction.

“The best linebacker in college football this season is going to be Reuben Foster because he’s going to be a senior,” Moultry said. “Reggie (Ragland) was (the best) last year, so (Foster) is going to follow that path.”

The nation’s No. 8 inside linebacker is looking for a family environment at the college he attends, and he believes Alabama offers that to him. But the best thing he heard from the Crimson Tide staff on Friday was a simple yet powerful six-word message.

“We can get you where you need to be,” Moultry said of Alabama’s message to him.

And that’s the NFL.

All rankings are from the 247Sports composite unless otherwise noted.

Chris Kirschner covers Alabama football recruiting for SECCountry.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play in Bryant-Denny.